Maternal behavior and child competence

Changes in maternal behavior associated with changes in the age of the child; relationships among maternal behavior, child competence, and family social status; and prediction of child competence using objective and subjective assessments of mothers and children were the focus of the longitudinal research. Fifty-two mothers and their first-born children were assessed when the children were 3, and 4 years old. Forty-eight of the dyads also were assessed when the children were 5 years old. Maternal affective and directive behaviors occurring in a video-recorded mother-child problem-solving situation at assessment Yrs 1 and 2 were observed using the Parent-Child Interaction Code. At Yrs 1, 2 and 3 maternal Instrumental and Expressive behaviors were assessed using selective items from the Q-Sort Inventory of Parenting Behaviors. Children\u27s competence was assessed with the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised (PPVT-R) at Yrs 1, 2, and 3, and with the Iowa Inventory of Parental Assessment of Children\u27s Competencies at Yr 3. Hollingshead\u27s Four Factor Index of Social Position indicated family social status at Yr 1;The findings were consistent with Vygotsky\u27s theory that as children increase in their ability to solve problems independently (associated here with an increase in age), the adult assumes a less directive role in the problem-solving situation. Regression results suggested that a medium level of directiveness may facilitate growth in the child\u27s competence. Maternal judgments of the child\u27s mental ability significantly correlated with the child\u27s PPVT-R scores. Maternal report of her own instrumental behavior and the observed maternal negative interactions with the child at Yr 2 contributed significantly to the regression model predicting child\u27s competence at Yr 3. Social status and reported maternal expressive behavior did not contribute significantly to the models predicting child\u27s competence;Although results suggest that parents who are relatively less directive may stimulate greater cognitive growth on the part of the child, future research should attend to maternal reports, as well as to objective measures of the child\u27s competence, rather than relying primarily on limited observations of maternal behaviors

Neighborhood context and financial strain as predictors of marital interaction and marital quality in African American couples

Demographic characteristics, family financial strain, neighborhood–level economic disadvantage, and state of residence were tested as predictors of observed warmth, hostility, and self–reported marital quality. Participants were 202 married African American couples who resided in a range of neighborhood contexts. Neighborhood–level economic disadvantage predicted lower warmth during marital interactions, as did residence in the rural south. Consistent with the family stress model (e.g., Conger & Elder, 1994), family financial strain predicted lower perceived marital quality. Unexpectedly, neighborhood–level economic disadvantage predicted higher marital quality. Social comparison processes and degree of exposure to racially based discrimination are considered as explanations for this unexpected result. The importance of context in relationship outcomes is highlighted

Exploring the impact of skin tone on family dynamics and race-related outcomes.

Racism has historically been a primary source of discrimination against African Americans but there has been little research on the role that skin tone plays in explaining experiences with racism. Similarly, colorism within African American families and the ways in which skin tone influences family processes is an understudied area of research. Utilizing data from a longitudinal sample of African American families (N= 767), we assessed whether skin tone impacted experiences with discrimination or was related to differences in quality of parenting and racial socialization within families. Findings indicated no link between skin tone and racial discrimination, which suggests that lightness or darkness of skin does not either protect African Americans from or exacerbate the experiences of discrimination. On the other hand, families displayed preferential treatment toward offspring based on skin tone and these differences varied by gender of child. Specifically, darker skin sons received higher quality parenting and more racial socialization promoting mistrust compared to their counterparts with lighter skin. Lighter skin daughters received higher quality parenting compared to those with darker skin. In addition, gender of child moderated the association between primary caregiver skin tone and racial socialization promoting mistrust. These results suggest that colorism remains a salient issue within African American families. Implications for future research, prevention and intervention are discussed

Maternal behavior and child competence

Changes in maternal behavior associated with changes in the age of the child; relationships among maternal behavior, child competence, and family social status; and prediction of child competence using objective and subjective assessments of mothers and children were the focus of the longitudinal research. Fifty-two mothers and their first-born children were assessed when the children were 3, and 4 years old. Forty-eight of the dyads also were assessed when the children were 5 years old. Maternal affective and directive behaviors occurring in a video-recorded mother-child problem-solving situation at assessment Yrs 1 and 2 were observed using the Parent-Child Interaction Code. At Yrs 1, 2 and 3 maternal Instrumental and Expressive behaviors were assessed using selective items from the Q-Sort Inventory of Parenting Behaviors. Children's competence was assessed with the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised (PPVT-R) at Yrs 1, 2, and 3, and with the Iowa Inventory of Parental Assessment of Children's Competencies at Yr 3. Hollingshead's Four Factor Index of Social Position indicated family social status at Yr 1;The findings were consistent with Vygotsky's theory that as children increase in their ability to solve problems independently (associated here with an increase in age), the adult assumes a less directive role in the problem-solving situation. Regression results suggested that a medium level of directiveness may facilitate growth in the child's competence. Maternal judgments of the child's mental ability significantly correlated with the child's PPVT-R scores. Maternal report of her own instrumental behavior and the observed maternal negative interactions with the child at Yr 2 contributed significantly to the regression model predicting child's competence at Yr 3. Social status and reported maternal expressive behavior did not contribute significantly to the models predicting child's competence;Although results suggest that parents who are relatively less directive may stimulate greater cognitive growth on the part of the child, future research should attend to maternal reports, as well as to objective measures of the child's competence, rather than relying primarily on limited observations of maternal behaviors.</p

Economic pressure and depressive symptoms: Testing the family stress model from adolescence to adulthood.

The family stress model (FSM) was used to examine the effects of economic pressure on maternal depressive symptoms, couple conflict, and mother harsh parenting during adolescence on offspring depressive symptoms in adulthood. Prospective longitudinal data were analyzed across 3 developmental time points that included 451 mothers and their adolescents. Economic pressure and mother depressive symptoms were assessed during early adolescence, couple conflict and mother harsh parenting were assessed during middle to late adolescence, and offspring depressive symptoms were assessed in adulthood. Findings were in support of pathways in the FSM in that economic pressure was related to maternal depressive symptoms, which were associated with couple conflict, which in turn predicted mother harsh parenting during adolescence, and mother harsh parenting was associated with offspring depressive symptoms in adulthood.This accepted article is published as Kavanaugh, S. A., Neppl, T. K., & Melby, J. N. (2018). Economic pressure and depressive symptoms: Testing the family stress model from adolescence to adulthood. Journal of Family Psychology, 32(7), 957–965. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000462. Posted with permission

Neighborhood context and financial strain as predictors of marital interaction and marital quality in African American couples

Demographic characteristics, family financial strain, neighborhood–level economic disadvantage, and state of residence were tested as predictors of observed warmth, hostility, and self–reported marital quality. Participants were 202 married African American couples who resided in a range of neighborhood contexts. Neighborhood–level economic disadvantage predicted lower warmth during marital interactions, as did residence in the rural south. Consistent with the family stress model (e.g., Conger & Elder, 1994), family financial strain predicted lower perceived marital quality. Unexpectedly, neighborhood–level economic disadvantage predicted higher marital quality. Social comparison processes and degree of exposure to racially based discrimination are considered as explanations for this unexpected result. The importance of context in relationship outcomes is highlighted.This is an author's manuscript from Personal Relationships 10 (2003): 389–409, doi:10.1111/1475-6811.00056. Posted with permission.</p

Pregnancy and Parenting Among Youth Transitioning from Foster Care: A Mixed Methods Study

Background: Over 400,000 children and youth are in foster care at any given time in the United States, with nearly one-third exiting care between ages 13 and 20. Pregnancy among women in this population is nearly double national averages, with one-third becoming pregnant by age 17 and nearly half of those experiencing repeat pregnancies by age 19. Research is needed about the sources of formal and informal information and support foster care youth receive about pregnancy and parenting, their access to and use of contraception, and the involvement of fathers/non-custodial parents in raising children. Objective: The purpose of the current study was to better understand the experiences of foster care youth to inform policy and practice recommendations that address the high rate of unintended pregnancies and early parenting among youth transitioning from foster care. Methods: This is a secondary analysis of data from a mixed-method study with a concurrent explanatory design including survey and focus group data. Complete survey responses included 81 participants (female n = 61; male n = 20) between the ages of 18–25, and 9 females took part in two focus groups. Results: Sexual experiences were common for foster care youth and they reported few educational opportunities and supportive relationships. Themes that emerged from the focus group discussions centered on socialization about reproduction, social support, and parenting. Conclusions: Access to educational opportunities and supportive personal relationships were lower than what would be expected from national estimates of non-foster care youth. Findings from both the survey and focus group data suggest enhancing programs for foster care youth with a specific focus on education and support for reproductive health, pregnancy, and parenting

Pregnancy and Parenting Among Youth Transitioning from Foster Care: A Mixed Methods Study

Background: Over 400,000 children and youth are in foster care at any given time in the United States, with nearly one-third exiting care between ages 13 and 20. Pregnancy among women in this population is nearly double national averages, with one-third becoming pregnant by age 17 and nearly half of those experiencing repeat pregnancies by age 19. Research is needed about the sources of formal and informal information and support foster care youth receive about pregnancy and parenting, their access to and use of contraception, and the involvement of fathers/non-custodial parents in raising children. Objective: The purpose of the current study was to better understand the experiences of foster care youth to inform policy and practice recommendations that address the high rate of unintended pregnancies and early parenting among youth transitioning from foster care. Methods: This is a secondary analysis of data from a mixed-method study with a concurrent explanatory design including survey and focus group data. Complete survey responses included 81 participants (female n = 61; male n = 20) between the ages of 18–25, and 9 females took part in two focus groups. Results: Sexual experiences were common for foster care youth and they reported few educational opportunities and supportive relationships. Themes that emerged from the focus group discussions centered on socialization about reproduction, social support, and parenting. Conclusions: Access to educational opportunities and supportive personal relationships were lower than what would be expected from national estimates of non-foster care youth. Findings from both the survey and focus group data suggest enhancing programs for foster care youth with a specific focus on education and support for reproductive health, pregnancy, and parenting.This accepted article is published as Rouse, H.L., Hurt, T.R., Melby, J.N. et al. Pregnancy and Parenting Among Youth Transitioning from Foster Care: A Mixed Methods Study. Child Youth Care Forum (2020). Doi: 10.1007/s10566-020-09567-0. Posted with permission. </p